How long can egg be out before collected?

[Bamas-Chicks]

I know how to check if egg is good or not,but I'm curious about how long does it take for an egg to go bad. I've got one hen that likes to hide hers, and boy she's good at it. I accidently find them and wonder how long they been there. I always do the float test on them and Thier good 99% of the time.

 

[Chickassan]

In my personal experience a few months just sitting out.
Last year I sat one outside "for science" on April 1st and it went visibly bad June 23rd.

 

[Bamas-Chicks]

Wow,I would never imagined they could last that long. Especially during those months with the heat.

 

[chrissynemetz]

My head knows eggs will stay good for a long time.... my stomach tells me that if I'm not sure of their age.. eww no. Lol

 

[Chickassan]

Now, it was probably bad but just looked o.k a couple weeks sooner but it started to seep on the 23rd.
I had one like liked to bury eggs, so I was trying to get a timeline on her.

Wow,I would never imagined they could last that long. Especially during those months with the heat.

 

[Moby-Duck]

eggs can last a while. if they don't smell bad if you crack them open, your probably good. Mine sit out for anywhere to a day to two weeks.

 

[aart]

I know how to check if egg is good or not,but I'm curious about how long does it take for an egg to go bad. I've got one hen that likes to hide hers, and boy she's good at it. I accidently find them and wonder how long they been there. I always do the float test on them and Thier good 99% of the time.

Float test only tell if it's older due to evaporation, which can depend on conditions.
It won't tell you if an egg is 'bad' or 'good'.
When in doubt....
Open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe,
use your eyes, nose, and common sense to decide if egg is OK to eat.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.